UV clinches 3rd place, dumps depleted UP in PCCL

MANILA, Philippines—On target right from the opening tip, University of the Visayas thrashed University of the Philippines, 93-63, to salvage a third-place finish in the Philippine Collegiate Champions’ League Sunday afternoon at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Jancork Cabahug scored 21 points to lead the Green Lancers and preserve the early brilliance of Lassina Coulibaly, a 6-foot-9 big man from Ivory Coast, who finished with a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Melvin Butohan, who was just as crucial in UV’s exploits early in the tourney, finished with 15 off the bench.

“Jancork is my go-to-guy, so I told him that he has [clearance] to take those shots,” said UV coach Gary Cortes of Cabahug, who knocked down all of his four shots from deep and greased his team’s second quarter pull-away.

The Green Lancers enjoyed leads as big as 32 with their former star and now Gilas pool member Rey Suerte cheering from the stands.

Bruel Kamga, Jordi Gomez de Liaño, and CJ Catapusan all scored 13 points each for the Fighting Maroons, who were missing their stars Ricci Rivero, Kobe Paras, and Bright Akhuetie.

Rivero had 27 in the narrow loss to San Beda last Saturday.

Still, Cortez and Cabahug believe that the UV’s victory over a UP side that turned to its developmental players, still matters in the grand scheme of things.

“This is still big for us,” said the stocky Cabahug in Filipino. “They’re among the top-three college teams in the country.”

“We are always ready whichever team we face,” added Cortez.

Meanwhile, two elite college programs in Ateneo and San Beda tangle in the Final which unfurls at 4 p.m.

The Scores:

UV 93 — Cabahug 21, Coulibaly 17, Botuhan 15, Cometa 13, Maestre 9, Saga 7, Delator 4, Buscay 3, Maglasang 2, Gellacone 2, Tarrosa 0, Taliman 0, Avancena 0, Villaceran 0.

UP 63 — Kamga 13, Catapusan 13, Gomez de Liano 13, Murrell 9, Battad 5, Spencer 3, Ramos 2, Longa 0, Santiago 0.

Quarters: 18-14, 44-28, 76-48, 93-63.